Personal Injury Law

Dog Bite Lawsuits Challenge Unprovoked Police K-9 Attacks

By guest-writer

Dogs may be man’s best friend, but on occasion they behave in ways that undermine this unique relationship, to put it mildly. Two recent stories portray the dangers that arise when aggressive dogs attack unsuspecting victims.

The first animal bite incident occurred recently in Indianapolis, where a teenager suffered serious injuries after an encounter with a police K-9. The victim, Natalie Bradley-Wilson, 18, claims she was walking through the parking of her church lot when she was attacked by the police dog.

After a prolonged struggle featuring several dog bites, another member of the church eventually wrestled the dog away from Bradley-Wilson. The woman was then taken to the hospital, where she was treated for severe injuries stemming from bites to her neck, shoulder, and chest.

According to a member of the Indianapolis police department, the dog likely mistook a blanket carried by Bradley-Wilson for a common police training device. Apparently, police typically use “bite sleeves” in training exercises, and the blanket carried by Bradley-Wilson looked similar to these devices.

Of course, the more pressing concern was the actions of the dog’s handler at the time of the attack. According to sources, the handler was not made available for comment.

The mother of the victim wants the dog to be put down, and is also considering filing a personal injury lawsuit in response to the unprovoked dog attack.

In another dog bite story, a man in Austin, Minnesota recently filed a personal injury lawsuit against a police officer whose his K-9 police dog pinned the man down and bit deeply into his thigh and buttocks.

According to sources, the man, Peter Vought, claims he was the victim of police brutality, as he was unarmed and lying face down on the pavement when the dog attacked. In addition, Vought claims that he did not resist arrest nor did he attempt to flee from the officer.

This is not the first personal injury claim against this officer and his dog, aptly named Tazer. In another case two years ago, the officer was again accused of using excessive force during the course of arrest.

This incident, though, occurred three years ago and local sources indicate there was some skepticism regarding the intentions of the prosecutor, who is soon up for re-election.

Unfortunately, these stories are not isolated incidents. Dog bites happen all the time. If you or someone you know has been the victim of an animal attack, a personal injury claim may allow you to seek compensation for your injuries, including any mental anguish you suffered as a result of the incident.

To learn more about personal injury law, and to determine if you have a valid claim, contact a local injury lawyer today. Relief may be just a phone call away.

Full post as published by The Injury Blog on November 12, 2010 (boomark / email).